Inside the Star

Player of the week: Daniel Schneider

Daniel Schneider of Hillcrest Canadiens midget junior A team is the Star’s first player of the week for the 2010-2011 minor hockey season for the unusual feat of scoring not just one but two key overtime winners — in semifinal and championship games — at the Toronto Aces Michael Hutton September Classic tournament two Sundays ago.

Daniel Schneider of Hillcrest Canadiens midget junior A team is the Star’s first player of the week for the 2010-2011 minor hockey season for the unusual feat of scoring not just one but two key overtime winners — in semifinal and championship games — at the Toronto Aces Michael Hutton September Classic tournament two Sundays ago.

In semifinal action, Schneider, a16-year-old, 6-foot, 183 pound winger, was the only one of six players in a shootout to net a goal in a 2-1 win over Duffield Devils. In the championship game, he scored after picking up a rebound near the end of the first overtime period for the 2-1 victory over Toronto Penguins.

“Everyone played well,” he said to his Dad, George Schneider, then asked. “How did I get so lucky to score in the shootout (against Duffield) and then the winning goal in this game?”

“I was at the right place at the right time,” said Daniel, a grade 11 student at Westmount Collegiate in Thornhill.

Although he is humble, Daniel is one of the top scorers on the team.

“He has great hands and is very flexible... an adaptable forward,” said coach Paul Aikins.

“The winning goal against Penguins was short-handed, too,” Aikins added. “He has a lot of talent from the blue line in. “

“(Overtime) was pretty exciting,” said co-coach Wayne Marshall, noting that this team has not been very successful at tournaments.

Like many fans, Daniel’s favourite players is Alexandr Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

“He brings an energy to the game,” Daniel said of his hero. “I have liked him since the first game I saw him play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in his rookie year.”

His prize possession is a signed Ovechkin jersey.

“I got it for my 13th birthday and it’s hanging on my bedroom wall,” he said. “It was one of my favourite presents.”

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